A day is a long time in politics. On Wednesday Keir Starmer said during PMQs he had full confidence in the UK’s ambassador to the US, Lord Mandelson, despite concerns about his relationship with American paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Less than 24 hours later, Mandelson has got the sack. Life comes at you fast, eh?
While the Prime Minister and his team figure out how to fend off further questions about exactly what was known – and when – about the details of Mandelson’s relationship with the convicted abuser, attention is beginning to turn to who might step into the Prince of Darkness’s shoes. The Labour veteran was valuable in the US thanks to his friendship with President Donald Trump – but there are more than a couple UK politicians who have built a bond with the POTUS in recent years. One of those includes Reform UK’s very own Nigel Farage…
Quizzed on Talk TV whether he would like the role, the Reform leader was coy. Asked whether he could be described as someone with a good knowledge of current affairs, negotiation and, of course, Trump himself, Farage admitted: ‘Well, I don’t think they’ll offer the job to me. But I have to say it’s a rather lovely building.’ Pressed again on whether he would take the role – or stick to leading Reform in the UK – Nige conceded:
If I was Starmer, I would offer it to me because if I accepted it, it would get me out of the way, wouldn’t it? So I don’t think I possibly could – but it would be very tempting in terms of lifestyle.
How interesting. Will more political hopefuls start coming out of the woodwork now Mandelson is moving on? Other names floated have included David Miliband, George Osborne or a return to Karen Pierce. Stay tuned…
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